Carrie Lam pledges to ‘listen humbly’ as protesters celebrate Hong Kong election rout

Carrie Lam has said she will listen to protesters
AFP via Getty Images
Michael Howie25 November 2019

Embattled leader Carrie Lam today said she would “listen humbly” as pro-democracy supporters celebrated a landslide victory in Hong Kong's local elections following months of violent protests.

In a rout that stunned the semi-autonomous territory, candidates seeking to loosen control by China swept nearly 90 per cent of 452 district council seats, taking control of 17 out of 18 the councils.

“The government will certainly listen humbly to citizens’ opinions and reflect on them seriously,” Ms Lam, right, said in a statement issued by the government.

As the results came in, voting centres erupted in loud cheers and chants of “Liberate Hong Kong. Revolution Now” — a slogan used by many protesters over the past six months.

Pro-democracy supporters celebrate after pro-Beijing politician Junius Ho lost his election in Hong Kong
AP

Pictures posted online showed celebrations outside polling stations and on the streets of Central, the business district, with the popping of bottles of champagne. The Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, the largest pro-establishment political party, suffered the biggest setback, with only 21 of its 182 candidates winning.

Its leader, Starry Lee, apologised and said the government must do more to reconcile society. Many pro-Beijing political heavyweights were trounced, including controversial lawmaker Junius Ho, who is reviled by protesters for appearing to support a bloody mob attack on demonstrators in July. He was knifed during campaigning this month.

Spiral of violence: police chase anti-government protesters at Hong Kong’s Polytechnic University
Getty Images

“It’s nothing short of a revolution. This is a landslide,” said Willy Lam, a political expert at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. “It’s a sound repudiation of the Carrie Lam administration and shows the silent majority are behind the demands of the protesters.”

The pro-democracy camp hailed its astounding gains in the normally low-key race as a victory for the people and said Ms Lam and Beijing must now seriously heed protesters’ demands, which include an investigation into alleged police brutality and full suffrage. “We are only vehicles used to reflect the people’s concerns,” said Wu Chi-wai, leader of the Democratic Party.

In self-ruled Taiwan, which China claims as its territory, the Presidential Office expressed “great admiration and support” for the election result.

“The election fully demonstrates Hong Kong people’s absolute will to pursue freedom and democracy,” it said.

The pro-democracy camp secured only around 100 seats at the previous polls four years ago. Almost three million people voted, a record turnout of more than 71 per cent that appeared to have been spurred by the turmoil, almost double the number last time.

Beijing, which blames foreign powers for fomenting the unrest in Hong Kong, has showed no signs that it may soften its stance on the former British colony, which was returned to China in 1997.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told reporters during a visit to Tokyo today that any attempts to undermine Hong Kong will be futile.

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